Simple to make and an ideal treat at kids birthday parties or other special occasions, the spider is a drink that is full of joyful memories for many Australians. Elsewhere in the world, you might call this an ice cream float or ice cream soda but in Australia and New Zealand, the drink is typically called a spider because of the web-like surface that forms as a result of the reaction between the ice cream and soda. Whatever you want to call it, this type of spider is a sweet treat that’s sure to delight.
Ingredients
Method
Spiders
Place two scoops of ice-cream each in four 1½-cup (375ml) glasses.
Top with creaming soda.
We used creaming soda but you can use any fizzy drink you like. Lemonade, cola, ginger beer, lime or orange would work just as well.
Note
What is a spider drink made of?
A spider is made of ice cream and a carbonated drink, such as creaming soda, lemonade or ginger beer. You can experiment with the flavour of the drink by changing what type of soda or ice cream you use. But vanilla ice cream is typically the most common option, as it tends to work with a lot of different flavoured soft drinks.
How to make a good spider
The ratio of ice cream to soda is one of the most important aspects of a spider because of the reaction that happens between the ice cream and fizzy drink. So, it’s helpful to have a recipe to follow the first few times you make a spider.
Another factor to consider is the flavour combination. Vanilla ice cream and creaming soda are a classic choice for a spider. But, as we’ve noted here, you could use almost any fizzy drink you want.
If you decide to use a different flavour of ice cream, it’s a good idea to do a taste test first. That way you can be sure the ice cream and fizzy drink flavours work together.
